GIFT   OF 


MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  THE  CHILD. 


A  MASQUE— 

THE  STORY  of 
THE  NATIVITY 

FOR  THE  COMMONWEALTH 
of  LOS  ANGELES 


By 

SUSANNA  CLAYTON  OTT 


The  FRED  S.  LANG  COMPANY 
PUBLISHERS  '  LOS  ANGELES 


COPYRIGHT 

DECEMBER,  1915 

By  SUSANNA  CLAYTON  OTT 

[Permission  to  use  for  acting  must 
be  secured  from  the  Author.] 


LILLIAN  BURKHART  GOLDSMITH, 

This  play  is  yours, 

my  friend,  that  you  may 

make  it  theirs. 


331827 


PEOPLE  of  THE  PLAY 


IN  THE  ORDER  of 
THEIR  COMING 


A  Woman,  who  speaks  the  prologue 


Five  Shepherds  of  Judea     . 


An   Old  Shepherd        .       .       . 

A  Shepherd  Boy 

Elezier  (His  Brother)         .       . 

The  Angel  Gabriel       .       .       . 

The  King  of  the  North 

The  King  of  the  South 

The  King  of  the  East 

Angel  of  the  Star  of  B.ethlehem 

Joseph,  a  Carpenter  of  Nazareth 

Mary,  the  Mother  of  the  Child 

Singing  Shepherds 

Heavenly  Choir 

Attendants  of  the  Three  Kings 


MRS.  LILLIAN  BURKHART  GOLDSMITH 

MRS.  ALFRED  WHITNEY  ALLEN 
MRS.  JAMES  BERT  STEARNS 
Miss  ELIZABETH  YODER 
MRS.  SAMUEL  VICTOR  MC€LURE 
Miss  DORA  A.  HOLMES 

MRS.  CHAUNCEY  L.  HIGBEE 
Miss  GERTRUDE  COMSTOCK 
MASTER  JAMES  BUSH 
MRS.  FRED  SELWYN  LANG 
MR.  CECIL  IRISH 
MR.  MAX  POLLOCK 
MR.  CLYDE  McCoY 
MADAM  CONSTANCE  BALFOUR 
MR.  FREDERICK  WILSON 
Miss  SARAH  TRUAX 

f  MEMBERS  OF  THE  MUSICAL 
<j  CLUBS  AND  CHURCH  CHOIRS 
I  OF  Los  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA. 


PRODUCED  UNDER  THE  DIRECTION  OF 
MRS.  LILLIAN  BURKHART  GOLDSMITH 

MUSICAL  DIRECTORS 

MR.  ADOLPH  TANDLER 
MR.  CARL  BRONSON 
MR.  JOSEPH  DUPUY 


•ORIGINAL  CAST  as  played  in  Exposition  Park,  Los  Angeles,  California, 
December  24th  and  December  25th,  1915. 

Color  Artist  and  Designer  of  Costumes  for  Shepherds  and  Angels,  Miss 
ARRI  ROTTMAN.  Costumes  for  the  Orpheus  Club  and  Kings  of  the  Orient 
designed  by  MR.  WALTER  J.  ISRAEL. 


THE  SHEPHERDS  OF  JUDEA. 


A  MASQUE  - 
THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY 


[//  is  night.    Somewhere  a  voice  sings. 

VOICE. 

Kyrie  eleison. 
Christ  e  eleison. 

[And  there  is  silence.  After  a  time,  a  ray  of  soft 
light  comes  down  from  the  sky  and  rests  upon 
the  figure  of  a  WOMAN,  who  stands  at  the  right, 
clad  in  robes  of  white  like  habit  of  a  nun.  The 
WOMAN  speaks  the  prologue. 

PROLOGUE. 

jOU,  who  are  come  to  hear,  the  play  is  yours. 
It  is  for  each  and  every  one  of  you 
As  you  may  think;  a  play  for  rich,  or  poor, 
Or  wise,  or  simple,  Christian,  pagan,  Jew, 
Or  those  strange  creeds  of  other  hemispheres, 
Who  call  Him  Oromazd  or  Varuna. 
The  name,  it  matters  not,  to-night,  perhaps 
In  some  strange  wise  He  is  the  same  to  each, 
These  others  merely  fashioned  Him  by  their 

Own  virtues,  customs,  laws  as  was  their  need. 

That  which  you  bring,  to-night,  so  shall  you  find; 

It  is  but  as  it  is  for  you  and  me. 

For  if  the  tale  to  you  is  tale  divine, 

[1] 


[THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY] 

Then  so  it  is, — the  play  is  surely  yours! 

But  if,  instead,  the  tale  is  but  a  tale, 

It  still  is  yours;  for  'tis  a  lovely  thing, 

Whose  loveliness  for  twice  one  thousand  years, 

Has  fed  the  hungry,  lifted  up  the  lame, 

And  made  the  blind  to  see.     It  has  been  fair 

Enough  that  centuries  have  lived  by  it, 

And  fairer  still,  when  they  have  come  to  die.  — 

And  you,  that  one,  who  stands  alone  and  says, 

"  This  is  the  end;  there  is  no  God!  "  and  still 

Is  not  afraid,  but  lives  that,  somehow,  good 

May  not  be  lost,  the  play  is  yours,  my  friend. 

I  know  not  quite  what  you  may  get  from  it, 

And  yet  I  know  you'll  hear  with  sympathy.  - 

And  you,  —  if  such  be  here,  and  there  are  such, 

Wise  men,  who  by  their  subtle  reasoning,  - 

Oh,  faith  is  not  a  thing  of  argument!  — 

Do  hold  this  Christ  is  charlatan,  a  poor, 

At  best,  deluded  rhapsodist,  that's  dead 

Two  thousand  years,  to  whom  mere  time  alone 

Ascribes  these  mysteries,  —  the  play  is  yours! 

For  be  He  charlatan,  yet  from  this  worse 

Than  naught  have  men  in  their  necessity 

Shaped  for  themselves,  out  of  themselves,  this  end 

Toward  which  they  reach,  but  never  may  attain ! 

They  may  not  love  enough,  yet  from  their  own 

Imperfect  love  they  wrought  this  perfect  one. 

And  so  the  play  is  yours,  not  that  you  see 

That  men  have  failed,  but  failing,  have  aspired!  — 

To-night,  the  text  of  your  especial  creed, 

Does  matter  not,  if  when  to-morrow  comes, 

You'll  do  a  deed  of  charity;  or  speak 

A  kindly  word  of  him,  your  enemy; 

[2] 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

Or  say  to  her,  your  sister  of  the  street, 
'  I,  too,  have  sinned,  the  difference  is  that  your 
Temptation  was  not  mine".     Oh,  then,  my  friend, 
The  miracle  is  wrought,  and  Christ  is  born! 

[The  PROLOGUE  is  finished.  The  WOMAN  is  seen 
no  more.  Soft  voices  are  heard  singing. 

VOICES. 
Come  hither,  ye  faithful, 

Triumphantly  sing, 
And  see  in  the  manger, 

The  angels'  dread  King. 
To  Bethlehem  hasten 

With  joyful  accord, 

Oh,  come  ye,  come  hither, 
Oh,  come  ye,  come  hither, 
Oh,  come  ye,  come  hither, 
To  worship  the  Lord! 

[The  voices  cease.  A  star  is  seen  low  in  the  sky,  a 
star  of  silver-blue,  and  over  all  there  comes  a 
light,  soft  and  luminous.  A  SHEPHERD  is  seen 
running  up  the  hill. 

FIRST  SHEPHERD. 

Oh,  ho-ye!     Ho-ye!     Come  ye  up  the  hill 
And  see  the  star! 

[SECOND  and  THIRD  SHEPHERD  come  running  in. 

SECOND  SHEPHERD. 

It  winks  its  eye  and  becks 
For  me  to  come. 

THIRD  SHEPHERD. 

I  left  Melchoir  to  watch 
And  ran  along. 

[3] 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

[MELCHOIR  is  heard  calling  to  the  sheep  behind 
the  hill. 

MELCHOIR. 
Ye-oh!  Ye-oh!  Ye-oh! 

FIRST  SHEPHERD. 

I  hear  him  call.     There's  naught  to  fear  to-night, 
The  sheep  lie  strangely  still  and  flat  upon 
The  ground. 

[The  rest  of  the  SHEPHERDS  come  in.  The  OLD 
MAN  is  leaning  heavily  upon  his  shepherd's 
crook. 

SHEPHERD  BOY. 

'Tis  beautiful!     See  how  it  rests 
Upon  the  tree  as  if  it  were  a  bird! 

FOURTH  SHEPHERD  (scratching  his  pole}. 

Tis  strange  a  star  should  come  down  from  the  sky 
And  roost  him  in  a  tree. 

AN  OLD  SHEPHERD. 

Aye,  aye,  I,  too, 
Would  see  a  star  a-roostin'  in  a  tree! 

FIRST  SHEPHERD. 

And  also  winking  his  one  eye  at  thee, 
O,  Nathan-Ben-Elezier,  like  wanton 
Of  the  street. 

AN  OLD  SHEPHERD. 

I,  too,  did  read  the  stars, 
When  I  was  young.     It  is  the  highest  learnin' 
Of  them  all. 

[4] 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

SECOND  SHEPHERD. 
As  high  up  as  the  skyl 
[All  slap  their  hips  and  laugh  for  the  joke  is  good. 

MELCHOIR  (calling}. 
Ye-oh!  Ye-oh!  Ye-oh! 

FIRST  SHEPHERD. 

And  still  he  calls. 

SHEPHERD  BOY. 

Grand  dame  hath  told  me  oft  the  tale  of  how 
The  wise  men  have  foretold  a  star  would  come 
And  rest  upon  the  roof  of  where  is  born 
The  King  of  all  the  Jews.     O,  Nathan,  say, 
And  could  this  be  the  Star  of  which  they  spoke  ? 

AN  OLD  SHEPHERD. 

Mayhap  I     Mayhap!     I,  too,  have  heard  the  tale. 
And  stranger  things  than  this  hap  every  day. 
I  sometimes  think  that  if  great  Master  Sun 
Arose  but  once  in  each  man's  life,  he'd  stand 
In  awe  before  the  wondrous  sight,  and  reck 
The  world  were  at  an  end.     But  that  we  see 
The  sun  rise  every  day,  'tis  common  like 
Our  wives  do  grow,  when  married  forty  years. 
Aye,  aye,  I,  too,  have  heard  the  tale! 

THIRD  SHEPHERD. 
It  becks  as  if  'twould  have  us  go  with  it. 

FOURTH  SHEPHERD. 
More  like  as  not  it  would  bewitch. 

[5] 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

FIRST  SHEPHERD. 

And  turn 
Us  mad ;  or  mayhap  to  an  owl. 

SECOND  SHEPHERD. 

I  dreamed 

A  dream,  last  night.     A  devil  pinched  my  leg, 
And  in  the  morn,  when  I  awoke,  the  spot 
Was  there,  still  red, — And  now,  here  is  the  star!— 
And  yet,  they  say  there's  naught  in  dreams! 

AN  OLD  SHEPHERD. 

Oh,  no, 

He  is  a  friendly  star.     See  how  he  bows 

At  us.     I,  too,  would  bow  at  him.    Good  eve,  [salutes  the  star. 

Fair  sir.     [Aside  to  the  SHEPHERDS. 

We'll  speak  polite,  for  e'en  the  de'il 
Is  pleased  at  fair  spoke  words.  —  Good  even,  sir, 
What  wouldst  thou  have  of  us  poor,  unbooked  men? 

[Suddenly  it  is  night,  and  there  is  the  sound  of 

passing  wings  and  the  blare  of  trumpets,  and 

celestial  VOICES  sing. 

VOICES. 

Glory  to  God  in  the  highest 
Peace  on  earth,  good  will  to  men. 

[The  SHEPHERDS  throw  themselves  on  their  faces 
in  their  fear  and  moan  and  cry  aloud. 

SHEPHERDS. 
I  fear!  --  I  fear!  —  Lord,  God,  I  am  afraid! 

[A  ray  of  dazzling  light  descends  from  the  sky,  and 
GABRIEL  stands  aloft  in  robes  of  radiance. 

[6] 


THE  ANGEL  GABRIEL. 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

GABRIEL. 

Fear  not,  for  I  bring  ye  good  tidings  of  great  joy 
which  shall  be  unto  all  men:  for  there  is  born  this  day,  in 
the  city  of  David  a  Saviour,  which  is  Christ,  the  Lord. 
And  this  is  the  sign  unto  you ;  ye  shall  find  a  Babe  wrapped 
in  swaddling  clothes  and  lying  in  a  manger.  And  His 
name  shall  be  Jesus,  and  His  Mother  shall  be  called  Mary, 
and  the  man  whom  His  mother  hath  married  is  Joseph,  a 
workman  out  of  Nazareth.  A  star  shall  go  to  show  the 
way,  and  it  shall  come  to  rest  above  the  place  where  shall 
lie  the  Child,  Jesus.  Go,  ye  and  find  the  place. 

[And  GABRIEL  is  no  longer  there.     Again  there  is 

the  light  as  of  many  stars.     The  SHEPHERDS 

slowly  lift  their  heads. 

FIRST  SHEPHERD. 
And  hath  he  gone? 

SECOND  SHEPHERD. 
Good  Lord,  and  what  a  scare! 

SHEPHERD  BOY. 

The  Star!     The  Star!     It  is  the  Star,  and  we 
May  go  to  see  the  King! 

AN  OLD  SHEPHERD. 

Oh,  no,  oh,  no, 

That's  going  far,  --  But  yet  he  were  fair  spoke,  - 
And  still !     And  still !  —  But  oh,  my  very  bones 
Seemed  filled  with  joy!     I  go!     Lord  God,  I  go! 

FOURTH  SHEPHERD. 
We'll  go  and  take  Him  gifts. 

[7] 


[THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY] 

THIRD  SHEPHERD. 

'Twas  Gabriel, 
Himself  I     The  very  same.     I'll  go  with  thee. 

SECOND  SHEPHERD. 
I'll  take  my  cock,  all  shining  like  the  day. 

FIRST  SHEPHERD  (capering  about). 

And  I  will  take, 
For  Jesus's  Sake, 
A  lamb  as  white  as  driven  snow. 

FOURTH  SHEPHERD. 

O,  Nathan, 

Dost  thou  think  he'd  like  a  necklace  made  of  beads 
That  have  a  charm  to  help  at  teething  time? 

AN  OLD  SHEPHERD. 

Why  would  He  not?     Is  teethin'  such  a  pleasant 
Business  as  that?    Aye,  take  the  beads  1 

SHEPHERD  BOY. 

O,  Nathan,  I  have  naught  that  I  may  take. 
I  may  not  go,  because  I  have  no  gift  I 

FIRST  SHEPHERD. 

And  why  not  sing  for  Him?    A  song  would  be 
A  very  pretty  gift,  and  would  it  not, 
O,  son  of  him,  who's  called  Elezier? 

AN  OLD  SHEPHERD. 
Aye,  aye,  a  song,  a  sweet  and  pretty  gift, 
The  kind  of  song  that's  made  for  baby's  sleep. 

SHEPHERD  BOY. 
Oh,  I  will  sing  to  Him  with  all  my  heart. 

[8] 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

SECOND  SHEPHERD. 

Then  come,  let  us  away,  the  night  grows  old, 
And  sing  so  time  will  pass  more  pleasantly. 

SHEPHERDS  (singing). 

O,  Mary,  Mary,  Mother  mild, 

We  go  to  seek  thy  Little  Child, 

We  go  to  worship  and  to  pray, 

The  Star  leads  on  to  show  the  way. 

With  hearts  of  love  and  happy  song, 

Come,  brothers  dear,  let's  march  along, 

O'er  snowy  crest  and  woodland  drear, 

We  know  not  hunger,  cold  nor  fear, 

For  Little  Christ  is  born  to-night, 

A  Babe,  a  God,  oh,  wondrous  sight! 

Our  gifts  are  very,  very  small, 

But  Jesus  dear,  they  are  our  all. 

A  bit  of  bread,  a  sup  of  wine, 

On  which  our  Little  Lord  may  dine, 

A  string  of  beads,  a  cock  to  crow, 

A  lambkin  white  as  driven  snow. 

And  so  we  march  across  the  down, 

Until  we  come  to  David's  town. 
[They    disappear,   singing.      As   their   song   dies 
away,  there  Is  heard  the  song  of  the  approach- 
Ing  KING  OF  THE  NORTH  and  the  KING  OF  THE 

SOUTH  with  their  ATTENDANTS,  each  coming 
from  his  way,  one  from  the  right  and  one  from 
the  left. 

ATTENDANTS  OF  THE  KING  OF  THE  NORTH. 

We  praise  Thee.  O  God,  we  acknowledge  Thee  to  be  the  Lord. 
All  the  earth  doth  worship  Thee,  the  Father  everlasting. 

[9] 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

ATTENDANTS  OF  THE  KING  OF  THE  SOUTH. 

To  Thee  all  angels  cry  aloud,  the  heavens  and  all  the 

Powers  therein. 
To  Thee  Cherubim  and  Seraphim  continually  do  cry. 

ATTENDANTS  OF  THE  KING  OF  THE  NORTH. 
Holy,  Holy,  Holy,  Lord  God  of  Sabaoth. 

ATTENDANTS  OF  THE  KING  OF  THE  SOUTH. 
Heaven  and  earth  are  full  of  the  majesty  of  Thy  glory. 

ATTENDANTS  OF  THE  KING  OF  THE  NORTH. 
The  glorious  company  of  the  Apostles  praise  Thee. 

ATTENDANTS  OF  THE  KING  OF  THE  SOUTH. 
The  goodly  fellowship  of  the  Prophets  praise  Thee. 

ATTENDANTS  OF  THE  KING  OF  THE  NORTH. 
The  noble  army  of  Martyrs  praise  Thee. 

ATTENDANTS  OF  THE  KING  OF  THE  SOUTH. 

The  Holy  Church  throughout  all  the  world  doth  acknowl 
edge  Thee. 

ATTENDANTS  OF  THE  KING  OF  THE  NORTH. 
The  Father  of  an  Infinite  Majesty. 

ATTENDANTS  OF  THE  KING  OF  THE  SOUTH. 
Thine  adorable,  true  and  only  Son. 

ATTENDANTS  OF  THE  KING  OF  THE  NORTH. 
Also  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  Comforter. 

[The  KINGS  have  met,  and  all  of  them  sing  to 
gether. 

[10] 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

ATTENDANTS  OF  THE  KINGS  OF  THE  NORTH 
AND  OF  THE  SOUTH. 

Thou  art  the  King  of  Glory,  O,  Christ. 
Thou  art  the  everlasting  Son  of  the  Father. 

[The  KING  OF  THE  NORTH  is  a  fair  knight  in  golden 
armour,  <who  rides  a  richly  caprlsoned  white 
horse.  All  his  people  are  soldiers  like  himself. 
They  form  a  noble  army  like  that  of  the  crusa 
ders.  They  bring  the  gift  of  strength  of  arms, 
and  dominion  over  land  and  sea.  THE  KING 
OF  THE  SOUTH  is  dark  like  an  Arab  or  Moor. 
He  rides  a  camel.  His  people  are  also  dark 
with  the  suns  of  the  desert.  They  carry  rich 
gifts  of  fruits  in  baskets  and  trays  upon  their 
heads,  and  caskets  of  gems,  and  golden  vases 
filled  with  fragrant  wine,  and  robes  of  silk,  all 
the  wealth  of  all  the  world. 

KING  OF  THE  NORTH. 
Good  even,  friend. 

KING  OF  THE  SOUTH. 

Good  eve  to  thee,  and  canst 
Thou  tell  us  of  the  way  to  seek  the  King, 
Who's  born  this  night  to  all  the  universe? 

KING  OF  THE  NORTH. 
We,  too,  would  know  the  way  to  Bethlehem. 

KING  OF  THE  SOUTH. 

Far  from  the  south,  where  Father  Nile  doth  flow 

From  out  the  snows  of  Ethiopia, 

WeVe  journeyed  here,  and  we  are  spent  and  done'. 

[11] 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

KING  OF  THE  NORTH. 

And  we  from  where  the  North  Star  hangs  all  bright 

Upon  the  dipper's  lip.     We  come  to  bring 

Our  fealty  unto  the  new-born  King. 

We  bring  the  gift  of  mailed  hand  and  strength 

Of  nations  great  in  arms.     We  draw  our  swords 

In  His  good  cause,  the  cause  of  Christ  the  King. 

KING  OF  THE  SOUTH. 

And  we  bring  gifts  of  gold  and  frankincense, 

Rich  fruits  from  far  oases  of  the  plains, 

And  raiment  rare;  a  king  must  feast, 

And  must  be  robed  to  suit  his  royalty. 

But  here  a  stranger  comes,  an  aged  man 

With  beard  upon  his  breast.     We'll  ask  of  him. 

[The  KING  OF  THE  EAST  enters.  He  is  an  old 
man.  He  leans  heavily  upon  his  staff,  and 
carries  close  against  his  breast  a  roll  of  parch 
ment,  written  in  strange  characters.  It  is  the 
•wisdom  of  the  East.  The  ATTENDANTS  OF  THE 
KING  carry  other  rolls,  but  the  most  sacred  the 
KING  carries.  The  KING'S  elephant,  with  rich 
and  jeweled  how d ah  on  its  back,  is  led  by  an 
attendant,  the  KING  does  not  ride  on  so  holy  a 
quest.  He  walks,  bowed  with  age,  and  the 
burden  of  his  jeweled  and  embroidered  robes. 

KING  OF  THE  SOUTH. 
Peace  be  with  thee,  Brother. 

KING  OF  THE  EAST. 

And  peace  also 
With  thee,  and  with  thy  house. 

[12] 


THE  KING  OF  THE  NORTH. 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

KING  OF  THE  NORTH. 

God  be  with  thee. 
And  dost  thou  know  the  way  to  Bethlehem? 

KING  OF  THE  EAST. 

We,  too,  would  know  the  way  to  that  same  town. 
Far  from  the  plains  of  Ind  to  find  the  place 
WeVe  journeyed  here  as  flies  the  bird  across 
The  trackless  wastes  of  the  unchartered  skies. 

KING  OF  THE  SOUTH. 
And  hast  thou  walked  the  way? 

KING  OF  THE  EAST. 

Aye,  all  the  way. 

It  were  not  meet  to  ride  upon  so  rich 
A  quest. 

KING  OF  THE  SOUTH. 

And  all  the  miles  from  where  the  Indus 
Flows  across  the  desert  hast  thou  walked? 

KING  OF  THE  EAST. 
Aye,  all  the  way  I  walked. 

KING  OF  THE  SOUTH. 

Then  I,  too,  walk. 

KING  OF  THE  NORTH. 
And  I ;  but  what  way  shall  we  walk? 

KING  OF  THE  EAST. 

Patience, 

It  is  a  virtue  I  have  learned.     The  Lord 
Will  show  to  us  the  way  that  we  shall  go. 

[13] 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

[Suddenly  it  is  night  again.  There  is  the  blare  of 
trumpets,  and  GABRIEL  appears  to  the  KINGS  as 
he  did  to  the  SHEPHERDS.  The  PEOPLE  OF  THE 
KINGS  throw  themselves  on  their  faces,  and 
even  the  KINGS  put  their  arms  across  their  eyes 
at  the  blinding  sight. 

GABRIEL. 

Ye  learned  men,  who  from  the  farthest  ends 
O7  earth  have  come  to  seek  Him  born  to-night, 
I  bid  ye  see  the  star  there  in  the  sky. 
Do  follow  it  and  ye  shall  know  the  way. 

[And  GABRIEL  is  no  longer  there. 

KING  OF  THE  EAST. 

The  Lord  hath  spoke.     So  set  our  faces  toward 
The  star,  and  in  His  glory  shall  we  walk. 

[The  KINGS  with  their  PEOPLE  go  of  together, 
singing. 

THE  THREE  KINGS  AND  THEIR  PEOPLE. 

O,  Lord,  save  Thy  people  and  bless  Thine  heritage. 

Govern  them  and  lift  them  up  forever. 

Day  by  day  we  magnify  Thee,  and  we  worship  Thee 
world  without  end. 

Vouchsafe,  O,  Lord,  to  keep  us  this  day  without  sin. 

Lord  have  mercy  upon  us! 

O,  Lord,  let  Thy  mercy  be  upon  us  as  our  trust  is  in  Thee. 

O,  Lord,  in  Thee  have  I  trusted,  let  me  never  be  con 
founded. 

s  the  KINGS  go  away  the  light  begins  to  fade, 
and  soon  it  is  gone.  In  time,  there  appears 
over  the  place  where  lies  the  Child  Jesus,  an 
angel  in  soft,  radiant  robes,  the  ANGEL  OF  THE 

[14] 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 


STAR  OF  BETHLEHEM.    The  angel  holds  in  his 

two  hands  held  prayer-wise  against  his  heart, 
the  star.  At  first,  this  is  all  the  light  there  is, 
and  then  there  is  seen  to  be  a  light  coming  from 
a  lantern,  hanging  from  a  beam  under  the 
thatched  roof  of  a  little  pent  house.  As  the  light 
grows  softly  brighter,  there  are  seen  to  be  two 
people  in  the  house,  an  old  man,  and  a  young 
woman,  slender  and  lovely.  The  old  man  leans 
upon  his  staff ;  the  young  woman  bends  over  the 
manger  in  which  lies  the  Child.  A  soft  light 
comes  from  the  manger.  The  young  woman  is 

MARY,  THE  MOTHER  OF  JESUS;  the  man  is 

JOSEPH,  a  workman  out  of  Nazareth.  An  ox 
and  an  ass  eat  hay  from  a  rack;  a  kid  is  tied  by 
his  four  feet  and  lies  upon  the  ground;  white 
doves  roost  upon  the  roof.  There  is  soft  celes 
tial  music  in  the  air.  Voices  are  singing  the 
Gloria  in  Excelsis,  and  afar  a  single  voice  sings 
the  Ave  Maria.  They  sing  alternately,  first 
one  and  then  the  other.  The  air  is  full  of 
snatches  of  song. 

VOICES  (singing). 

Glory  to  God  in  the  highest, 
Peace  on  earth,  good  will  to  men. 

VOICE  (singing). 
Ave  Maria. 

VOICES  (singing). 

We  praise  Thee,  we  bless  Thee 
We  worship  Thee,  we  glorify  Thee. 
We  give  thanks  to  Thee 
For  Thy  great  glory. 

[15] 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

VOICE  (singing). 

Gratia  plena. 

Dominus  tecum 

Benedicta  tu  in  muleribus 

Et  benedictus  fructus  ventris  tui  Jesus. 

MARY. 
Oh,  I  hear  voices,  Joseph,  voices  singing. 

JOSEPH. 
Nay,  I  hear  naught. 

MARY. 

And  dost  thou  truly  not? 
Oh,  I  do  hear!     The  air  is  full  of  song. 
Canst  hear,  "We  praise,  we  bless,  we  worship  Thee?" 

JOSEPH. 
Nay,  surely  I  hear  naught. 

MARY. 

'Tis  so?    Perhaps, 
Joseph,  it  is  my  heart  that  I  do  hear: 
"We  praise,  we  bless,  we  worship  Thee." 
The  heart  of  every  mother  sings  at  such 
A  time.     Her  heart  could  fairly  burst  with  song. 

VOICES  (singing). 
O,  Lord  God,  Lamb  of  God, 
Thou  that  takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world, 
Have  mercy  upon  us! 

VOICE  (singing). 
Sancta  Maria! 
Sancta  Maria! 

[16] 


THE  KING  OF  THE  SOUTH. 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

MARY. 

Thou  dost  not  hear?    "  Thou  that  tak'st  away 
The  sins  of  all  the  world  have  mercy  on  us  ?  " 

JOSEPH. 
I  do  not  hear. 

MARY. 

It  is  all  heav'n  and 
All  earth  that  sings  within  my  heart,  Joseph. 

VOICES  (singing}. 
Thou  that  sittest  at  the  right  hand 
Of  God  the  Father, 
Have  mercy  upon  us. 
For  Thou  only  art  holy, 
Thou  only  art  the  Lord, 
Thou  only,  Christ,  with  the  Holy  Ghost 
Art  most  high  in  the  glory  of  God,  the  Father.     Amen. 

MARY. 
Amen.     [There  comes  a  knocking  at  the  gate. 

JOSEPH. 
There's  some  one  knocking  at  the  gate. 

MARY. 

'Tis  people  who  are  come  to  bow  the  knee; 
But  oh,  my  heart  bows  lower  than  their  knees! 

JOSEPH  (opening  the  gate}. 
What  wouldst  thou,  friend? 

FIRST  SHEPHERD. 
We  seek  the  man  that's  called 
Joseph,  a  carpenter  of  Nazareth. 

[17] 


[THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY] 
JOSEPH. 

I  am  the  man. 

FIRST  SHEPHERD. 
Come  in,  this  is  the  place. 
God's  lamp  above,  I  knew  it  had  not  lied. 
His  Love  ran  faster  than  our  feet  and  rests 
Upon  the  roof. 

SECOND  SHEPHERD. 
We  seek  the  Child.     We  bring 
Him  gifts  and  we  would  bow  the  knee. 

JOSEPH. 

Enter. 

FIRST  SHEPHERD. 
Unlearned  are  we  except  in  love. 

MARY. 

Who  loves 

Knows  all ;  it  is  a  gift  forever  shared 
Yet,  sharing,  ever  doth  remain  entire. 

FIRST  SHEPHERD. 

My  gift  is  but  a  lamb,  and  yet  it  seems 
To  mean  some  other  thing,  I  know  not  what. 
There  is  a  song,  "O,  Lamb  of  God",  dost  know 
It,  ma'am? 

MARY. 

Oh,  aye,  I  know;  this  very  night 
I  heard  it  sung.     The  air  was  full  of  song. 

SECOND  SHEPHERD. 
IVe  brought  to  Him  a  shining  cock, 
Twill  wake  Him  like  a  little  clock. 

[18] 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

O,  cockerel,  my  little  dear, 
Come  lay  ye  down  by  Jesus  here. 

MARY. 

A  cock!     Somehow  my  heart  doth  stop  and  then 
Run  on  apace  at  sound  of  that  dread  word! 
I  seem  to  hear,  "Before  the  cock  doth  crow, 
Thou  shalt  deny  Me  thrice!"     I  know  not  what 
It  means,  but  still  I  thank  thee,  friend. 

AN  OLD  SHEPHERD. 

I  leave 

With  Thee  my  staff;  I  need  it  not,  for  my 
Poor  legs  do  feel  the  joy  of  youth  e'er  since 
Great  Gabriel  hath  said  that  Thou  art  born. 

[The  shepherd's  staff  which  the  OLD  MAN  leaves 
instead  of  being  a  crook,  is  made  with  a  cross  at 
the  top  crudely  tied  on  with  leather  thongs. 

MARY. 

It  is  a  cross!     Oh,  men  have  died  on  such 

A  tree,  until  the  very  name,  itself, 

Hath  come  to  mean  a  pain  that  must  be  borne.  — 

He  must  know  pain  like  other  men,  so  leave 

The  cross,  my  friend. 

FOURTH  SHEPHERD. 

My  gift  is  very  small, 
'Tis  but  a  string  of  beads,  yet  it  hath  charm 
Against  the  Evil  One.     Each  bead  doth  mean, 
"O,  Jesus,  pray  for  me!"  and  so,  when  all 
Are  counted  o'er,  'twere  safe  to  go  to  bed. 

[19] 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

MARY. 

A  string  of  crimson  beads  like  drops  of  blood. 
Each  bead  a  prayer;  each  prayer  a  drop  of  blood! 
Oh,  I  will  clasp  it  warm  about  His  neck. 

SHEPHERD  BOY. 

O,  Mother,  dear,  I  made  a  song, 
I  made  it  as  I  came  along, 
It  is  a  song  that  mothers  sing 
When  baby's  sleep  is  on  the  wing. 

(Sings)  : 

Sleep,  little  Jesus,  sleep, 
The  lambs  no  longer  leap. 

Birds  on  their  nests 

Have  gone  to  rest 
Sleep,  little  Jesus,  sleep. 

Sleep,  little  Jesus,  sleep, 
The  stars  a  watch  will  keep, 

With  their  one  eye, 

Up  in  the  sky, 
Sleep,  little  Jesus,  sleep. 

MARY. 
And  didst  thou  make  this  song? 

SHEPHERD  BOY. 
Aye,  and  with  my  heart. 

MARY. 

A  singing  heart!     Oh,  let  thy  heart  so  sing, 
My  son,  and  may  its  song  be  heard.     And  thou, 
Who  standest  there  alone,  what  hast  thou  brought? 

[20] 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

FIFTH  SHEPHERD. 
I  brought  no  gift. 

MARY. 

No  gift  unto  thy  God? 
FIFTH  SHEPHERD. 
I  have  a  secret  sin,  and  so  my  gift 
Would  be  unclean. 

MARY. 

Dost  sorrow  for  thy  sin? 

FIFTH  SHEPHERD. 
Aye!     Aye!     I  grieve,  Lord  God,  most  sore  I  grieve! 

MARY. 

Then  is  thy  gift  most  pure,  a  contrite  heart, 
At  which  the  gates  of  paradise  do  lift 
So  high  a  hundred  sinners  are  let  in. 
Depart  in  peace,  my  son,  and  sin  no  more. 

[dfter  each  SHEPHERD  has  spoken,  he  has  passed 
off.  When  they  have  all  gone  there  is  heard 
the  song  of  the  approaching  KINGS. 

THE  KINGS  (singing). 

We  praise  Thee,  O  God,  we  acknowledge  Thee  to  be  the  Lord. 
All  the  earth  doth  worship  Thee,  the  Father  everlasting. 
To  Thee  all  angels  cry  aloud,  the  heavens  and  all  the 

Powers  therein. 
To  Thee  Cherubim  and  Seraphim  continually  do  cry. 

[They  knock  upon  the  gate.    JOSEPH  goes  to  open. 

JOSEPH. 
Thou'rt  welcome,  friends. 

KING  OF  THE  SOUTH. 
Peace  rest  upon  this  house. 

[21] 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

JOSEPH 
And  peace  with  thee,  and  with  the  friends  with  thee. 

KING  OF  THE  NORTH. 

We  come  to  worship  at  the  shrine  of  Him, 
Who's  Master  of  us  all. 

JOSEPH. 
He  resteth  there. 

KING  OF  THE  EAST. 

O,  King  of  Kings,  for  whom  the  centuries 
Have  laid  their  ears  upon  the  ground  to  hear 
The  coming  of  Thy  feet,  I  bring  to  Thee 
The  sum  of  all  the  knowledge  of  the  earth, 
Its  wisdom,  its  philosophy;  communion 
Rare  of  scholars,  who  have  spent  their  lives 
In  searching  for  the  truth,  the  whence  and  why. 
I  leave  it  here,  a  lamp  unto  Thy  feet, 
For  I  am  old,  and  soon  will  pass,  the  day 
Is  young  for  Thee. 

MARY. 

My  friend,  he  knoweth  much, 
Who  loveth  much  and  'tis  not  found  in  books. 
For  love  is  the  commencement  and  the  end, 
The  height  and  depth  of  all  there  is  to  know; 
The  key  to  human  hearts,  the  greatest  book 
E'er  wrote,  and  not  by  man,  but  God,  Himself. 

KING  OF  THE  NORTH. 

I  bring  Him  kingly  power  and  knightly  sword, 
I  bring  dominion  over  land  and  sea. 
I  bring  the  strength  of  twice  ten  thousand  men, 
Who  have  not  known  defeat.    Take  Thou  our  sword, 
'Tis  drawn  from  now  but  in  Thy  cause,  great  King. 

[22] 


THE  KING  OF  THE  EAST. 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

MARY. 

Might  is  not  right!    And  thou  hast  trodden  down 

Thy  neighbor's  field,  and  burned  his  house  and  church, 

In  so-called  righteous  war,  because  the  cause 

Was  thine!     The  gift  which  thou  hast  brought  is  tears 

Of  widowed  wives,  and  children's  cries  to  whom 

The  fathers'  ears  are  deaf  I    He  needs  it  not! 

He  does  not  wish  thy  lands.    All  lands  are  His. 

He  knows  not  Ethiopia  from  Ind, 

The  same  to  Him  is  Macedon  and  Cush. 

The  Man  without  a  country!    No  nation  His! 

Lay  here  thy  sword  and  let  it  rust,  but  not 

With  widows'  tears  and  blood  of  dead  men's  hearts, 

But  with  the  kindly  dew  that  makes  the  grass 

To  grow  where  thou  hast  trod  it  down  and  with 

Thy  bloody  heel!    So  take  thy  gift  and  go! 

[The  KING  OF  THE  NORTH  and  his  people  depart 
'with  bowed  heads. 

KING  OF  THE  SOUTH. 

I  bring  Him  frankincense,  and  myrrh,  and  chains 
Of  gold,  and  broideries  intricate,  and  robes 
Of  purple  dyes  from  the  Phoenician  town, 
A  damask  silk  that  cost  a  dozen  years 
To  weave,  so  fine  it  is  with  fingers  skilled. 
I  bring  the  ransom  of  an  hundred  kings, 
Imposts  of  lands,  ten  cities'  tax,  the  wealth 
He  may  not  spend  in  twice  a  human  span. 

MARY. 

He  needs  no  other  wealth  than  charity. 

Blind  men  have  delved  in  earth  to  get  thy  gold, 

Bent  backs  have  paid  the  price  of  these  fair  goods, 

A  little  child  hath  slaved  into  the  night 

So  He  might  broidered  be  and  tricked  with  lace. 

[23] 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

Go,  take  thy  wealth  and  give  it  to  the  poor, 
He  will  receive  it  then,  for  they  are  He. 

[The  KINGS  depart,  but  MARY  has  no  eyes  for 
them.  She  sits  'with  her  hands  folded  in  her 
lap.  Her  thoughts  are  very  far.  The  KINGS 
sing  as  they  go. 

SONG  OF  THE  THREE  KINGS. 
When  Thou  tookest  upon  Thee  to  deliver  man, 
Thou  didst  humble  Thyself  to  be  born  of  a  Virgin. 
When  Thou  hadst  overcome  the  sharpness  of  death, 
Thou  didst  open  the  gates  of  heaven  to  all  believers. 
We  believe  that  Thou  shalt  come  to  be  our  Judge, 
We  therefore,  pray  Thee  help  Thy  servants, 
Make  them  to  be  numbered  with  Thy  saints  in  glory 

everlasting. 

O,  Lord,  save  Thy  people! 
Govern  them  and  lift  them  up  forever! 

[And  the  song  of  the  THREE  KINGS  fades  into  the 
night.  MARY,  her  eyes  'wide  'with  exaltation, 
her  bosom  heaving,  rises  to  her  feet. 

MARY. 

Oh,  I  do  give  to  you  my  precious  Son, 
To  all  the  sons  of  mothers  in  the  world, 
A  sword  shall  pierce  their  hearts  and  also  mine. 
I  would  not  have  Him  be  more  God  than  man, 
And  still  He  must  not  be  more  man  than  God. 
Oh,  He  must  feel  the  very  depths  of  pain, 
So  He  may  know,  and  knowing,  He  may  love. 
His  love  were  naught  did  He  not  suffer  too. 
Like  them  as  men,  and  like  Himself  as  God, 
A  thousand  fold  more  great.     I  give  my  Son 
Unto  the  Money  Changers  and  the  Scribes, 
And  Pharisees,  they'll  mock  at  Him  and  gamble 
For  His  coat,  and  drag  Him  in  the  dust. 

[24] 


THE  KINGS  OF  THE  ORIENT. 


• 


[  THE  STORY  of  THE  NATIVITY  ] 

And  yet  I  would  not  have  it  otherwise, 

If  He  may  love  enough,  my  Son,  my  Son. 

[MARY  folds  her  arms,  and  bows  her  head  upon 
her  breast.  Against  the  white  of  her  robe  there 
comes  a  crimson  rose,  like  a  throbbing  heart. 
The  picture  fades  into  the  night.  Only  the 
rose  is  seen,  still  blooming  in  the  dark,  then  it, 
too,  fades.  Out  of  the  night  Mary's  voice  is 
heard  speaking  as  from  afar. 

MARY. 

My  soul  doth  magnify  the  Lord, 
And  my  spirit  hath  rejoiced  in  God  my  Saviour. 
For  He  hath  looked  upon  the  low  estate  of  His  handmaiden: 
For  behold,  from  henceforth  all  generations  shall  call  me 
blessed.  Amen. 

VOICES  (Singing). 

Amen. 

[Out  of  the  sky  there  shines  a  cross  of  light  and  it 
stays  there  in  the  sky  and  does  not  go  away. 
After  you  have  reached  your  home,  if  you  look 
out  of  your  window,  you  will  still  see  it  there. 
Soft  voices  sing. 

VOICES. 

Holy  night,  silent  night, 

All  is  calm,  all  is  bright, 

Round  yon  Virgin  Mother  and  Child, 

Holy  Infant  so  tender  and  mild, 

Sleep  in  heavenly  peace. 

Holy  night,  silent  night, 
Shepherds  quake  at  the  sight, 
Glories  stream  from  heaven  afar, 
Heav'nly  hosts  sing  Alleluia, 
Christ  the  Saviour  is  born. 

Amen. 

[25] 


.       ..    ..... 

•; 


Gaylord  liros. 

Makers 
Syracuse,  X.  y. 

PAT.  JAN.  2 1,1 908 


YD  03470 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


